Bristol Zoological Gardens: A Group Of Twenty-Six Mid 20Thc Enclosure Plaques

Priced individually, the collection of twenty six original mid-twentieth century animal enclosure plaque signs, the earliest being 1946 and latest 1955, each in jet black with yellow lettering or white with red lettering, imprinted with the animal's name, details and species in Latin, some being double-sided through re-use over the years or with additional details regarding the animals, and surviving from the Bristol Zoological Gardens, Bristol, England.

Each plaque is in good overall order with no cracks. Please refer to the photographs to each for a visual reference. We have refrained from cleaning them.

The Plaques available are as follows, please add the desired plaque to your cart, should it/they not have sold and note if each is double sided, in photographic order they are as follows;

*One Sided*
BEWARE OF THESE ANIMALS
Himalayan Black Bear
Sunbear
Sacred Ibis
Grant's Zebra
Grevey’s Zebra
Chimpanzee
Bactrian Camel
Harnessed Antelope
Bohor Reedbuck
Axis Deer

*Double Sided*
King Penguin / Soay Sheep
Green Monkey / PLEASE DO NOT FEED Upsetting the MOTHER upsets the BABY
African Grey Parrot / Presented by Wrington V.C. School 6.7.52
Mealy Amazon / Cordon-Blue
Cassowary / Lizard Buzzard
Goat / Red Backed Saki Monkey
Lion / Japanese Ape
Red-Billed Weaver Bird / Mr Stinchcombe 7.1.49
Baby Nile Crocodile / Peacock
Desert Kangaroo Rat / Purchased 18.12.53
Ord Kangaroo Rat / Purchased 29.10.55
Agama Lizard / Presented by Mr.S Hensley 18.4.46
Fallow Deer / Deposited by Mrs. Probert 16.2.51
White-Handed Gibbon / Great Grey Kangaroo
Guinea Baboon / Great Red Kangaroo

Opened in 1836 by the Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society, Bristol Zoo was the world's oldest provincial zoo. The zoo's stated mission was to "maintain and defend" biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitats and promoting a wider understanding of the natural world".

Bristol, like its earlier London counterpart, included several original buildings which have been praised for their architectural quirks, despite being unsuitable for the care of animals; the (former) Giraffe House joined the main entrance lodge to the south gates on Guthrie Road as a Grade II listed building. The old Monkey Temple, resembling a southern Asian temple, was home to an exhibit called "Smarty plants", an interactive exhibit which shows how plants use and manipulate animals to survive. The zoo also has breeding firsts, including the first black rhino born in Britain in 1958, the first squirrel monkey born in captivity in 1953 and the first chimpanzee born in Europe in 1934.

The mammal collection at the zoo numbered around 300, representing 50 species, including: gorillas, Asiatic lions, goodfellow's tree-kangaroo, and red pandas. Among species on view at Bristol which are rare or absent in other UK zoos were Livingstone's fruit bats, aye ayes and quolls. The zoo's Twilight Zone was the first of its kind when it opened, there were many other indoor exhibits including an insect and reptile house and aquarium meanwhile outside there were several aviaries and a seal and penguin enclosure. The lakes' islands were home to gorillas, golden lion tamarins, golden-headed lion tamarins, gibbons and squirrel monkeys.

The Zoo announced on 27 November 2020 that after more than 186 years its main centre in Clifton would close in 2022, with its animals moving to its Wild Place Project site close to the M5 motorway and the zoo reopening there in early 2024.

Each plaque is a slice of zoological history and makes for a wonderful gift for any animal lover.